238 



BIRDS. 



however, in quoting the northern parts of Sutherlandshire, as we had 

 it on the authority of Jardine and Selby that they did so commonly 

 as long ago as 1835, and localities are quoted, viz. Loch Shin and 

 Loch Naver and Loch Hope ! I do not, however, put much reliance 

 upon the statement as applying to the last-mentioned locality, as I 

 do not think they bred there till much later (see the previous early 

 volume of this series). Also Yarrell supposed these localities to 

 represent the most soutliedy breeding haunts of the species at the time 

 he wrote (1st ed., 1844), quoting Jardine and Selby, but see the foot- 

 note as regards Loch Garry, etc. 



In the north-east their advances have been much slower, as the 

 following may serve to indicate. Mr. Milne records their first 

 appearance at Glensaugh Loch as late as 1897. Xow, in the previous 

 year, Mr. Milne had sent me his list, in which no mention was made 

 of this bird at all. But in the next year he gives notice of their 

 first appearance as follows : " Two males and one female first arrived 

 at Glensaugh Loch in February 1897." Mr. Milne was, later in the 

 same year, shown the nest by the keeper, viz. on the 16th May. 

 He well describes the creamy white of the eggs. (At the same time 

 he took notice of the first advent of Tufted Ducks at the same place !) 

 Again, in 1899, the AVigeons appeared to resort to Glensaugh Loch 

 for nesting purposes, so they may be considered at last to have thrust 

 themselves eastward from their more direct lines of advance as a 

 populating species. And in 1901 their numbers were increased 

 further by yet another pair. 



Indeed, by 1866, although Col. Drummoud Hay does not appear 

 to have known of it, or omitted to take notice of the fact, a nest and 

 eggs from Loch Eigheach was acquired by the Museum at Perth, 

 taken by Mr. Macdonald in June 1866,^ and presented by Sir Eobert 

 Menzies (Col. Drummond Hay in Proc. Perth, Soc. Nat. Science, 

 vol. i. p. 98). 



As to their continuance at this place there need be no doubt, 

 because in 1902 Mr. Godfrey found them as "the commonest Duck of 

 the district, and around Loch Eigheach"— a place eminently suited to 

 their requirements, as I am well aware. And in 1905 I saw pairs of 

 them there also. 



Indeed, in most suitable localities southwards the Wigeon abounds, 

 and even far south of our present area, into Forth on Braes of 

 Doune, etc., and south of Forth and Clyde. 



It becomes indeed unnecessary to enter into greater details as 

 ^ As I said, I knew of their nesting there commonly in 1S74, v. ante. 



